Mission Valley Veterinary Cardiology

Services for Breeders

Dr. Kienle is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, sub-specialty of Cardiology (board certified) and is qualified to perform pre-breeding screening exams. Pre-breeding screening exams can be scheduled as individual screenings (either at your local clinic or at one of our locations), as health clinics at breed shows or as private group clinics. There are minimum number requirements for breed shows and group clinics.

All certifications are carried out using the standards established by the ACVIM and and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The ACVIM and the OFA have recently formalized an updated collaboration that will change the screening process, including new forms. This new protocol went into effect on March 1, 2016. For more information see below. Legacy forms will be accepted from non-cardiologists for a period of time but will eventually be phased out.

Based on the current ACVIM/OFA standards, breed standards, and individual patient findings, either a physical examination alone or a physical examination and a focused echocardiogram will be performed in dogs. Screening for congenital heart disease requires only one examination after 12 months of age. Screening for acquired cardiac disease requires annual exams. In Boxers and Doberman Pinschers an annual Holter monitor, performed within 3 months of the screening examination, will also be required.

Pre-breeding screenings are also available for cats. Screening exams in cats will require a focused echocardiogram to evaluate for occult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Screening exams in cats are not registered through the OFA. Many breed groups use unique standardized forms without a formal registration process. There are currently two registries available for HCM in cats. PawPeds is a European registry and the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society is a UK registry. There are currently no official US registries for HCM or other cardiovascular disease in cats.

Screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (more info)

Screening Forms

UPDATE 04/01/2016- New forms are required for the OFA Advanced Cardiac Database (ACA). These are only available on-site as they are triplicate carbon-copy forms. The legacy forms are no longer valid for board-certified cardiologist clearances. The legacy forms will be accepted for non-cardiologist clearances for a period of time but will eventually be phased out. Dr. Kienle will have the new OFA ACA forms available at screening events. The formal OFA announcement of the ACA can be found here.